Sign HCR-39 Petition

On June 14, 2013, Rep. Ted Yoho, along with Reps. Alcee Hastings, William Cassidy, Doug LaMalfa, Lois Frankel, Tom Rooney, Trey Radel, Kurt Schrader, Martha Roby and Frederica Wilson submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture…

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[content_box_yellow width=”100%”]HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 39

Whereas every major sugar-producing and sugar-consuming country in the world maintains some form of direct or indirect subsidy to support its sugar growers, processors, or consumers;

Whereas virtually all of the more than 100 countries that produce sugar maintain market distorting subsidy programs, including—

(1) the Government of Brazil which has direct and indirect subsidies of at least $2,500,000,000 per year for programs to promote its sugar and ethanol industry and a subsidized credit program making available over $2,000,000,000 to growers to replant sugarcane; and

(2) the Government of Mexico which has direct and indirect subsidies to keep open 9 government-owned sugar mills accounting for 22 percent of Mexican sugar production and direct payments to sugarcane growers;

Whereas the world sugar market is the most volatile commodity market in the world;

Whereas the foregoing clauses provide ample evidence there is no undistorted, free market in sugar in the world today; and

Whereas if such a free market did exist, United States sugar farmers and processors could compete effectively in that market: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that it is the sense of Congress that –

(1) the President, by agreements negotiated under the auspices of the World Trade Organization, should seek elimination of all direct and indirect subsidies benefitting the production or export of sugar by the government of –

(A) each country that exported more than 200,000 metric tons of sugar during 2013; and

(B) any other country with which the United States has in effect a free trade agreement;

(2) if the President determines that all such subsidies by all such countries have been eliminated, then the President should report to Congress detailed information about how each of the countries has eliminated such subsidies; and

(3) after submitting such report, the President should propose to Congress legislation to implement a ‘‘zero for zero’’ sugar subsidy policy.

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If you’d like to support this resolution as a Citizen Outreach co-sponsor, just fill out the information in the upper right-hand column and we’ll include your name on the Letter of Co-sponsorship that will be sent to Rep. Yoho.

Thank you for your interest in this conservative free market issue, and thank you for participating in YOUR government.